Post 616 Installation, Lament and Light

This wasn’t the way I had planned to begin this post, and I can’t safely leave a candle burning for long in my apartment, but I feel the need to light one, however briefly, for hope, solidarity, affirmation, defiance and belief. 

Light will triumph over darkness.

The week’s narrative originally focused on Friday’s activity - my 6 hour television installation. Just before 8am  on Friday two young installers/electricians arrived with two vehicles, made several trips from vans to apartment with large boxes, which they then unpacked, piling up the empty boxes.

It’s hard to believe that’s all for one television. 

A couple of hours later, Richard, salesman and project manager, arrived to supervise, with a trainee. A lot of discussion, conversation and construction, dismantling, rebuilding occurred. Around 1pm I downloaded the B&O app and Richard began teaching me how to use the TV. In spite of my fear, it went smoothly. 

At 2pm all four workers were sitting watching me find channels. We were all very pleased with ourselves. 

I discussed my idea of a low cabinet behind the TV to accommodate the cords. The additional power point I had requested had slipped off their worksheet, leaving my dvd  player still on a power board. Lots of phone calls.  When pushed, one of the young electricians reluctantly said if it were his, and he had a cabinet there, he’d stick with the power board for the dvd player. 

After they left around 2.15, I made a coffee and stared at the blank machine for some time, then took myself off to Nordic Design Furniture to discuss a cabinet. David, their designer, agreed to visit at 9.30am the next morning. He arrived at 8.30am(🙄) and left 45 minutes later with a drawing. By 1pm I'd paid a deposit on a Tasmanian Blackwood cabinet to hold cords and the dvd. It will likely take months to build, but will I think be worth the effort and wait.

It was not until well into Friday evening that I plucked up courage to use the remote and navigate through a few free-to-air programs. It worked! Only on Sunday did I try navigating beyond free-to-air, and successfully logged in and opened some apps. There remains a problem accessing Apple products. I can stream iTunes from my phone or iPad, to the TV, but it won't open directly - my punishment for not buying an Apple product! I can only view Apple photos one at a time. I expect to solve these with help at some point.

I took the photo around 8.45pm on Friday night- the calm and successful end of an intense, 37C day, charged with fear and expectations, navigated with compassion and persistence by 4 highly skilled young abovemen. There are even bats returning to feed if you look closely.

The WES group’s last meeting for the year went well on Wednesday. We shared morning tea, news and projects. I didn’t seek  permissions to show everyone’s work, but I think it’s OK to show this section of a large rug one member had finished weaving the day before.

Another member recommended this book, not just for knitters, but any hand- crafters.

I took along the Bishop cushion and bags. It was the encouragement of this group that gave me permission to proceed. Incidentally, the amended bags are on their way from Guangzhou and the cushions from Melbourne.

Sunday was a Book Club Christmas Morning Tea without book discussion.

There were a lot of stories about miscommunication in medical settings and the mis-application of AI, but on the whole we are a cheerful, resilient and problem-solving group. I got up early on Sunday to make gingerbread trees and angels from dough I prepared late on Saturday afternoon and left in the fridge overnight. I like my biscuits crisp- probably leaving them in the oven a fraction longer than ideal. They are definitely crisp. I took a few to Book Club un-iced but when I got home, melted a block of white chocolate and drizzled it over them. They would certainly not pass muster in any cooking competition, but I like the taste. 

Much of the evening was spent knitting while watching the TV news as the BONDI shooting incident unfolded - a shocking and terrible thing. At the moment it looks as if we will rise to the occasion and put in place the necessary controls to maintain our democracy and prevent a recurrence.

Monday dinners are back on. Last night it was 5 of us for party pies, salads chicken and duck legs, Today my first 3 Christmas cards arrived - all from cousins in England! I love the messages they bring. More connection and light!

To cap off the day, around 5pm a piper began playing laments in the Square. I suspect it was the same one who played 3 years ago and stayed well out of sight. This time she (if it was the same one) stayed below several large trees, out of my sight, played for ten minutes and left.

I've spent the best part of today with my two youngest granddaughters, who got their Year 12 results yesterday - a trying time for everyone. While there are minor disappointments, their results are excellent and they will be able to do the courses they're aiming for either at their first or second-choice universities. Which it is will not be known until offers come out on 10 January. Today we went shopping at an Art Gallery and had lunch at Queen St to celebrate. 

They are candles of hope for the future in a fractured world. We are in this together, however old, wherever we are, were born, or are headed. Even as we lament, we remember:

In this world of darkness so we must shine, 

You in your small corner, and I in mine.